Sitting week beginning Monday 23 June 2008 — 5th House sitting week of the 42nd Parliament's 2008 winter or Budget sittings (9th sitting week for 2008).

This page summarises the work expected to be done in the House of Representatives and its Main Committee. It is updated weekly during sittings. For a full report of the business dealt with, including a list of documents presented, go to the Votes and Proceedings (available as PDF or HTML). To read the debates including question time go to Hansard.

For details about the proposed program of business for each sitting of the House and Main Committee and that sitting's public hearings of House and joint committees go to the House Daily Program (available in PDF (approx 92 kb) or Word format) The House Daily Program is usually available at least one hour before the House is scheduled to meet.

This week the House is expected to sit on Monday to Thursday, in a pattern similar to that described in the Infosheet 'A typical sitting day'.

The Main Committee is also expected to meet on Monday (from 6.40pm to 9.30pm), Wednesday (from 9.30am to 1pm) and on Thursday (from 9.30am to approximately 1pm).

For details about the current hours see the Houses daily routine of business diagrams for the House of Representatives Chamber (PDF 206 kb) and Main Committee (PDF 225 kb).

Real time tracking of business done by the House Chamber and the House Main Committee

You can track each item of business as it is being done in the House Chamber and the House Main Committee by using the “LiveMinutes” service at www.aph.gov.au/house/liveminutes.

You can see proceedings of the House Chamber and the House Main Committee via the webcasts at the Australian Parliament's livebroadcasting site .

Legislation

On Monday, at approximately 9.10pm, Mr Hunt (LP, Flinders, Vic) is scheduled to present the Save Our Solar (Solar Rebate Protection) Bill 2008.

The text of this bill will be available on Billsnet after it is introduced.

Government bills are expected to be introduced into the House this week. These bills will be listed on the House Daily Program and the text of each bill will be available on Billsnet after they are introduced. Details of bills to be introduced are not available prior to their introduction.

In the House during the week it is planned to resume debate on the following motion and Government bills already introduced (note – these plans may change as the week unfolds):

Monday

• Dental Benefits Bill 2008 — Consideration of Senate's amendment

• Tax Laws Amendment (2008 Measures No. 2) Bill 2008 — Consideration of Senate's amendments

• Wheat Export Marketing Bill 2008 — Consideration of Senate's amendments

• Military Memorials of National Significance Bill 2008

• Judiciary Amendment Bill 2008

• Crimes Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Matters) Bill 2008

• Governor-General Amendment (Salary and Superannuation) Bill 2008

Tuesday

• Governance Review Implementation (AASB and AUASB) Bill 2008

• Protection of the Sea Legislation Amendment Bill 2008

• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2008

Wednesday

• Therapeutic Goods Legislation Amendment (Annual Charges) Bill 2008

• Offshore Petroleum Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Bill 2008

• Offshore Petroleum (Annual Fees) Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Bill 2008

• Offshore Petroleum (Registration Fees) Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Bill 2008

• Offshore Petroleum (Safety Levies) Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Bill 2008

Thursday

• Messages from the Senate returning bills with amendments

• Further items yet to be confirmed (details will be in the House Thursday Daily Program

In the Main Committee it is planned to resume debate on the following Government business matters:

Monday

• Grievance debate (see entry below)

Wednesday

• Communications Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2008

• Resumption of debate on the motion to take note of the Standing Committee on Primary Industries and Resources report — More than honey: The future of the Australian honey bee and pollination industries

Thursday

• Statute Law Revision Bill 2008 .

Related Links

• For information on how laws are made go to our Infosheet titled Making Laws

• For the text of each bill go to Billsnet after the Bill is introduced.

Committee and delegation reports and private Members' motions

On Monday commencing at 8.30pm the following committee and delegation reports and private members bill will be presented in the Chamber and then the following private Members' motion will be debated (for details of this motion go to the Monday Notice Paper of the House):

• Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs — Reforming the Constitution: A roundtable discussion — Mr Dreyfus (Chair — ALP, Isaacs, Vic)

• Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services — Shareholder engagement and participation — Mr Ripoll (Chair — ALP, Oxley, Qld)

• Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity — Inquiry into the Annual Report if the Integrity Commissioner 2006-07 — Ms Parke (ALP, Fremantle, WA)

• Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Crime Commission — Inquiry into the Australian Crime Commission Annual Report — Mr Wood (Deputy Chair — LP, La Trobe, Vic)

• Save Our Solar (Solar Rebate Protection) Bill 2008 — Mr Hunt (LP, Flinders, Vic)

• Cleaners — Mr Georganas (ALP, Hindmarsh, SA).

At approximately 6.55pm in the Main Committee on Monday, debate will ensue on private Members' motions in the following sequence and about the following subjects (for details of these motions go to the Monday Notice Paper of the House):

• Centenary of Australian Rugby League — Mr Trevor (ALP, Flynn, Qld);

• HIV/AIDS — Mrs Hull (Nats, Riverina, NSW);

• Urban planning — Mr Ripoll (ALP, Oxley, Qld).

Auditor-General's reports

The following 2007-08 report of the Auditor-General is expected to be presented by the Speaker after question time on Tuesday:

• Report No. 43 — Performance audit — Third Tranche Sale of Telstra Shares: Department of Finance and Deregulation;

Further reports of the Auditor-General may be presented by the Speaker after question time on during the week.

Matters of Public Importance

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after question time, in accordance with the House's standing orders, it is possible for the House to discuss a matter of public importance (MPI). If an MPI is proposed by a Member, and is in order, the subject of the MPI will be announced shortly after midday on each of these days and published on the House at Work section of this website . If more than one MPI is proposed the Speaker will decide which MPI is the most urgent and important to be submitted to the House that day.

Grievance debate

In accordance with standing orders Grievance Debate is held on sitting Mondays in the Main Committee. At 8.30p.m., after the conclusion of private Members' business, debate is resumed on the question ‘That grievances be noted' and debate ensues until 9.30pm. Debate on the question is practically unlimited in scope, giving Members the opportunity, in 10 minute speeches, to raise matters in which they have a particular interest or to discuss complaints of constituents.

Petitions

Petitions may be presented by the Speaker on Monday at approximately 3.30pm and then announced by the Clerk.

Members' may also present petitions during the time reserved for Members' Statements in the House and the Main Committee, during the Adjournment Debates of the House and the Main Committee and during Grievance Debate in the House.

For details about House and Main Committee debate times see the order of business diagrams for the House of Representatives Chamber (PDF 206 kb) and Main Committee (PDF 225 kb)

Related links

• Petitioning the House of Representatives

• Standing Committee on Petitions

• Infosheet Petitions (PDF 242 kb)

Printable Version

• Printable version of this information in PDF format (44 Kb).